EMERGENCY procedures during a chemical factory leak have been criticised by residents who knew nothing of the drama on their doorstep.

FIREFIGHTERS in chemical contamination suits are hosed down after tackling a leak.

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EMERGENCY procedures during a chemical factory leak have been criticised by residents who knew nothing of the drama on their doorstep.

Police and firefighters, including staff in chemical contamination suits, were called to an incident at the Synprotec pharmaceutical works in Clayton Lane last Thursday.

At around 9.30am crews from the Philips Park and Gorton fire stations received reports of a fire at the plant.

The fire was caused by an overheated mixture of hydrochloric acid and toluene, an organic solvent.

A 28-year old woman working at the chemical plant received hospital treatment for shock and possible contamination. She was discharged later the same day.

Police closed off Clayton Lane and the surrounding streets as a precaution and people were asked to avoid the area.

Although residents were not evacuated, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said that they were asked to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed as a precaution.

Police officers' handling of the incident has been criticised by Clayton residents, who say they knew nothing about the leak until it was all over.

They claim they were not told about the incident, and only found out about it when visiting friends or relatives phoned to say they were unable to pass through police cordons.

One Clayton Lane resident said: "The police didn't tell me, it was only when my daughter phoned to say she couldn't get through that I found out.

"I went out to find out if there was any danger, and a policeman said, 'You should be alright, the wind's blowing the other way'."

Residents on the nearby Emily Beavan Close were not surprised at the lack of warnings from police.

One said: "We're always forgotten round here. If we see a policeman, we assume it's fancy dress or a strippergram."

Braddon Street residents say they were equally unaware of the incident and, although they knew of a police presence close by, they were kept in the dark about the nature of the commotion.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "During this incident, residents were advised to stay indoors awaiting further updates. This information was passed via the broadcast media and also via traffic officers with loud hailers.

"In incidents of this nature it is sometimes necessary to utilise the Force Helicopter to broadcast messages to the public. However, in this instance this was not possible due to the potential for the chemical to be further dispersed."

Synprotec spokesman, Dr Tony Manners, said that an internal investigation into the incident will take place but assured nearby residents that they had not been at risk.

He said: "Residents can be well assured that this was a very minor incident. I am full of praise for the fire service crews, and I was amazed and delighted at the professional standards they showed."

Greater Manchester County Fire Service spokesman Ian Bailey said: "An eight-litre mixture of hydrochloric acid and toluene was kept in a fume cupboard. This mixture overheated and caused a small fire in the cupboard. As a precaution, firefighters used breathing apparatus and chemical protection suits when entering the building and the premises was evacuated."